Patent GB-1093237-A (GB)
Abstract: 1,093,237. Cash register. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. March 2, 1966 [April 8, 1965], No. 9148/66. Heading G4T. A cash register of like accounting machine includes two transaction rows of keys, row 3, 35, Fig. 1, and row 2. 34, associated respectively with front and rear totalizer lines, each line carrying a plurality of interspersed totalizers selectable, in the usual way, by individual keys within the respective transaction rows, and a control row of keys, row 1, 32, associated with a cross-footer, or itemizer totalizer, on an upper totalizer line, and the arrangement is characterized firstly in that whilst the individual keys in the transaction rows of keys select their own totalizers on the front and rear totalizer lines, the actual operation that is preformed is determined by the combined settings of three control plates 106, Fig. 9, 101, Fig. 6, and 105, Fig. 10 (also shown in Fig. 15A, which should be aligned to the left of Fig. 15B), associated respectively with the row 1, row 2, and row 3 rows of keys, and secondly in that the possible operations that can be performed by the machine are determined by programme members such as 215, Fig. 6, releasably mounted on the control plates and in that the operations include the transfer of a total from one totalizer line to either or both of the other totalizer lines. Each control plate, e.g. plate 106, Fig. 9, associated with the row 1 keys, has three circumferential sections, top left (approximately 9À00 to 11À00 o'clock), bottom centre (5À00 to 7À00 o'clock) and top right (1À00 to 3À00 o'clock) which correspond respectively with the front (row 1) rear (row 2) and upper (row 3) totalizer lines. Each control plate is rotationally positioned in accordance with the depressed key in its row of keys by conventional differential mechanism (Fig. 7, not shown, for row 1 and Fig. 2, not shown, for rows 2 and 3). If no key is depressed in any row then the corresponding control plate is set in the " home " position, these being position 4 ("grocery" " key) of row 1, position 7 (missing key) of row 2 and position 1 (missing key) of row 1. The three control plates are arranged on a common shaft (see Fig. 15A), and are sensed by three rods 123 one for each totalizer line. At the beginning of a machine operation the three rods 123 are moved radially away from the control plates. The control plates are then positioned by their respective differential mechanisms and the rods 123 are moved radially inwards to sense the control plates, which as shown, are set in position 4 for row 1, Fig. 9, and position 0 for both rows 2 and 3, Figs. 6 and 10. At each position of each control plate, e.g. plate 106, there can be a " high " 107, a " neutral " 108 or a " low " 109 surface, so that each sensing rod 123 can come to rest either in a " high " position, which will result in a transfer from the associated totalizer line, a " neutral " position, which will result in no operation being performed on the associated totalizer line, or a " low " position which will result in an addition into the associated totalizer line. The sensing mechanism is shown in Fig. 5. It comprises a spider 111, coaxial with the control plates, which is rocked firstly anti-clockwise and then clockwise by the main machine cam-shaft 44 via lever 113 and link 112, so as to raise and lower the sensing rods 123 carried by levers 118. The final position of each sensing rod 123 determines the final position of a link 126 attached to the associated totalizer 97, 98 or 99. Each link 126 carries a stud 133 which is accordingly positioned so as to engage either an add spider 138, Fig. 15B (also Fig. 13, not shown), or a read/reset spider 139, Fig. 15B (also Fig. 14, not shown), or to remain in a central neutral position where it is locked by a control hanger 135, Fig. 15B (also Fig. 11, not shown). The add spider is arranged to be rocked in add timing, thereby engaging any coupled totalizer line with the amount key differential actuators in add timing, or the read/reset spider is rocked in read or in reset timing in accordance with the position of a reset control plate 73, Figs. 15A and 4, which is coaxial with, and moves with, the row 1 control plate 106. The control plate 73 contains a cam slot 170, Fig. 4, engaged by a roller 171 on a lever 172, which results in the read/reset spider 139 being rocked in reset timing for positions 1 to 3 of the control plate 106, and in read timing for positions 4 to 7. The control plate 73 also contains three other cam slots 210, 211 and 212 which cause engagement of the appropriate totalizer reset line 191, 192, 193, Fig. 15B, when the control plate 106 is in one of positions 1 to 3. A typical transfer operation will now be described. Depression of " Read Row 3 " key, position 7, in the control row of keys-this key being non-motorized-followed by depression of a key in transaction row 3, e.g. the " Dairy " key, will cause the addition of the contents of the " Dairy " totalizer (front line) into the itemizer (upper line). This operation can be repeated with other keys in row 3 so as to accumulate in the itemizer the total business done in the departments listed in row 3. The operation is as follows: upon depression of the " Dairy " key the machine commences a twocycle operation. Firstly, the three control plates for rows 1, 2 and 3 are set in positions 7, 7 and 5 respectively so that the sensing rod 123 for the front totalizer comes to reset in a " high " position sensing rod 123 for the rear totalizer comes to a " neutral " position and sensing rod 123 for the itemizer (upper) comes to a " low " position. Also the control plate 73 is set so that the read/reset spider 139 is rocked in read timing and no reset lines are engaged. The following operations then follow: (a) both the front and the upper totalizer lines are brought into engagement with the amount bank different mechanisms, (b) the zero stop pawls are disengaged, (c) the upper totalizer line is disengaged, (d) (second cycle) the amount bank differential mechanism operates to read the front totalizer line, (e) the upper totalizer line is brought into engagement with the amount bank differential mechanism, (f) the amount bank differential mechanisms are returned to zero thereby re-entering the amount into the front totalizer and adding it into the upper totalizer. Depression of the " Read Row 2 " key permits similar transfer to the upper totalizer from row 2, and depression of either the " Reset Row 2 " or the " Reset Row 3 " key permits transfers from row 2 to row 3 and vice versa respectively.